BYEE Eco-Camp: Getting Close to Nature

I have been very fortunate in this year of 2007...

Though it has been a hectic year in every way, it proves to also be a very rewarding one. I have been fortunate enough to go to Taiwan on a sponsored educational trip, been selected to work with Malaysian Vaccines & Pharmaceuticals, the biggest vaccine producer in Malaysia in my industrial training program, as well as passing my examinations with flying colours...

Nevertheless, this year proves to keep more surprises up its sleeves; In June, I was also selected as the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy 2007, an honour i would cherish in every moment in my life. The honour, conferred upon 10 Malaysian young environmental activists based on the insights on the environments. The greatest reward in this event is the fully sponsored live-in eco-camp in Taman Negara, Kuala Tahan for 5 days. This is where i get close to nature as i have never been before...

We started our journey from Bayer (M) headquarter at Wisma Damansara on a bus ride for around 2 hours before embarking on a fun boat ride for almost 3 hours along the river of Sungai Tembeling. The serenity while cruising through the river was really an unforgettable experience. As one of my colleague says," Breathing in the fresh air and feeling the cool air on the skin is a real luxury..." This is especially true for myself who has never been so close tionature before.

We reached our destination in Woodland Resort and started our 'camp' in a very pampered condition; rooms with air-conditioning and shower with water-heater!! That was a real pleasant surprise as we expected a real 'camp-in-the-nature'. However, things got serious pretty soon with seminars closely related to environmental protection and workshop which incorporated hands-on skills to instill real values and current reality of environmental conservation in Malaysia.

Some of the activities done during the five days camp were insect study, bird watching, water quality study, composting activity, caves exploration in Gua Telinga, environment trails to Lata Berkoh and around Taman Negara as well as canopy walking on the highest canopy walkway in Asia!!!

All in all, we really had a fun time, getting to know new friends from the corporate bodies like Bayer, academia like UPM, press and most of all, our peers from all around the nation who share the same dream of making Malaysia more environment friendly and who has a passion for mother earth just like i do...

FKKKSA Student Selected As Bayer Young Environmental Envoy: Standing a Chance to Win a Trip To Germany!

1st June: A student from FKKKSA, UTM has been selected as one of 10 Bayer Young Environmental Envoy (BYEE) 2007 by Bayer (M) Sdn. Bhd., in an international competition under the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP). Andy Seet Tjen Onn, a third year undergraduate from the Department of Bioprocess Engineering has been selected in the final stage in search of young environmental envoys in Malaysia based on his insights and involvements in environmental protection activities in the community.

The contest, organized by Bayer (M) Sdn. Bhd. in collaboration with UNEP, Treat Every Environment Special (TrEES) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), aims to identify the youth leaders in environmental protection and to provide these youths with the opportunity to learn about the existing technologies, facilities, and practices currently available in Germany. Seet stand a chance to win an all expense-paid weeklong study tour to Germany to experience how environmental protection is practiced by people, government and industry in one of the leading countries with regards to technology and environmental awareness.

As Bayer Young Environmental Envoy 2007, Seet will be given the privilege to attend a fully-sponsored live-in ecocamp held in Taman Negara Kuala Tahan from 16th to 20th of June 2007 together with the rest of the selected BYEE from various parts in the country. The objectives of the camp are to give the BYEE an overview on Malaysian environment and current efforts undertaken by various parties at addressing environment problem. At the end of the ecocamp, a panel of five judges will choose the top two BYEE to represent Malaysia to Germany in a final judging to be held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on 21st June 2007. An Award Presentation Dinner will be held to commemorate the closing of the event at the Grand Ballroom, Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur. All expenses for the event are sponsored by Bayer (M) Sdn. Bhd. and its partners.

Biotechnology Educational Trip to Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou,China, May 2006

P/S: Due to some problem with the original post, i recreate this post for all of you. Enjoy reading!!

Taking a break from the regular routine of lectures and examinations is always in a students’ mind. Have you thought about going on a trip in which you could see for yourself the technology advancements in another country and at the same time learn their different cultures? I have been fortunate enough to have made these dreams a reality by organizing the Biotechnology Educational Trip to China 2006…

Held from 6th to 13th May 2006 with the theme, “A niche where biotechnology meets cultural exchange”, the trip provides an eye-opening experience to 22 students and 3 lecturers from the department to experience for themselves the boost of biotechnology advancement in various institutions and industries in three southern provinces of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. As its theme suggests, the trip aims not only to provide the opportunity for the participants to gain technical knowledge on the application of biotechnology and bioprocess engineering but also enabling them to experience the oriental cultures of the Chinese Republic.

Just upon arrival at the Shenzhen airport on the very first night, we were already in awe that the city was still very much awake even it was already close to midnight! The streets were still crowded with people walking around and shopping even till 3 am in the morning!! The next day, we had a one-day leisure tour to Hong Kong and visited some of the most interesting tourist spots in the Pearl of the Orient, namely Repulse Bay, Stanley Street, Victoria Peak, and Kowloon. We also had a great time bargaining and shopping for souvenirs and goodies. We then paid visits to various corporate bodies, research institutes and universities involved in different lines of biotechnology and chemical engineering like pharmaceutical technology, gene-therapy, bio chemical compounds extraction, botany, food production, waste water treatment and agricultures.

In Shenzhen, we went to Tsing Hua Yuan Xing Co Pte. Ltd., a research based company specializing in pharmaceuticals and gene therapy. After the visit at its main office, the participants were brought to the South China Bio Park Incubator in which its research centre was located. They had the chance to see for themselves the whole pilot plant manufacturing line which operated under the GMP standards. Another company where they visited was Enoch Biologic Pte Ltd, a Hong Kong based company dealing with microbes based nutritional supplements. The company was working on the technology to induce microorganism into nutritional supplements to boost the consumers’ body immune system. The company was even generous enough to give away goodies to all participants! Besides, the students and lecturers had also the chance to go to HONSEA, a company which specialized in extraction of bio chemicals compound. The company develops “Super Critical CO2 Extraction” method to efficiently extract essences from jasmine, lily, and other plants.

The trip was originally done with the vision to initiate good relationship with the universities in southern China. Some of the universities that they visited are Sun Yat Sen University, South China Agricultural University, and South China University of Technology. One highlight of the programs in the university was the “Culture Exchange and Sharing Session” with the students in universities. Students from both Malaysia and China exchanged different views on various issues from education, cultures, and also technology. In the sharing session, representatives from UTM presented a talk on Malaysian cultures, education and tourist attraction. They even portrayed a variety of traditional attires through a brief fashion showcase and sang our traditional folk song, “Rasa Sayang”. The session was an enlightening session for students from both countries.

In South China University of Technology, we visited one of the oldest campus in China, which was built in 1927 by Dr Sun Yat Sen. One of the most interesting place ever visited was undoubtedly the “University City”; an island which accommodated 13 different campuses! The whole of the island was occupied by undergraduates and academicians. Other interesting place that we visited in these universities was a pilot waste water treatment plant which cost RMB 1 million and was fully monitored using computerized system. In addition, we also had a chance to visit research institutes like the South China Botanical Garden, a public botanical park which housed research institutes specialized in botany and herbal plants. The botanical garden had a herbarium which stored 1 million different species of medicinal herbs and plants. We were brought around the garden and had a great time.

One highlight on the cultural aspect of the trip was the visit to Splendid China: Folks Show Village and Museums, a tourist spot portraying and showcasing the customs and cultures of various ethnicities in China. It was a wonderful experience for the participants as they go through different show villages of different ethnics, watching their live performances, donning their traditional attires, and trying their foods. It was really cultural enriching because the centre showcased all historical and famous places all around China in miniature forms. We went to the mini Great Wall of China, the famous Xu Mountain, and many more. It was literally like throttling around China itself.

Indeed, the idea of visiting a completely different place, learning their cultures and language, gaining experience and technical knowledge, establishing new network of friends are all the elements of a great educational trip. That was an experience worth working for… And all of us were proud that we were part of the team which made this idea come true and embark on this journey of limitless discoveries.